Idaho Legislature Toughen Child Prostitution Laws

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A Senate committee has introduced a bill to tighten Idaho's laws in cases when a person is involved in prostitution with a minor. The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee introduced a bill Wednesday that clamps down on those convicted for using minors for commercial sex. The bill would make it a felony in all cases when adults use minors in the sex trade. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor when the offender is fewer than three years older than the teen victim. The proposed legislation also toughens the statute in other ways. For example, exchanging sex for material goods like food and shelter would become a criminal offense, and would require those convicted for using juveniles in the sex business to register as sex offenders.